D.C. MOVIE GUYS

JOE’S REVIEW: “UNITED 93″

I was not looking forward to seeing “United 93″ when I receieved word that pre0opening screenings had been scheduled. Even though we are about five months short of the fith anniversary of the terrible events of September 11, 2001, it just seemed as if it was too soon for a feature film about that day’s events. As much as I love movies, I know that there are nearly always at least a few liberties taken in filmic re-tellings of true events. All those thoughts ran through my head as the lights went down and the film began. About two hours later, I was shaken, saddened and needed to get out into the sunlight and gather my thoughts and emotions. One thing I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt: I had just seen a remarkable piece of cinema. “United 93″ is a compelling, heart wrending blend of documentary anbd drama, an unforgettable piece of masterful filmmaking. (more…)

JOE’S REVIEW “AMERICAN DREAMZ”

Satire is a tricky business. It has to walk a tightrope between subtlty and outrageousness. Hold back too much and the edge neede to drive the point home is blunted. Go too far over the top and your point is lost as the audience you hope to arouse shakes you off as being simply ridiculous. The best satire moves back and forth between the extremes without ever going too far in their extreme. Several times in “American Dreamz”, screenwriter/director Paul Weitz (”American Pie”, “About A Boy”) forgets this rule and his movie-and audience-suffer for it. Often, he regains the needed balance and, when he does, the movie hits the mark and makes you laugh. (more…)

MOVIE REVIEW: “THE WILD”

I have noticed a rather dusturbing trend developing at the movies in recent months. More and more, studios seem perfectly happy to throw out any kind of animated junk-and sometimes live action movies-with a G or PG rating to sop up every bit of the “family film” crowd’s money. You would think after seen the genuinely entertaining and highly profitable films produced by the Pixar/Disney relationship, executives would carefully weigh their options and strive for excellence. At the very least, you would expect them to want to make their films fun to watch. (more…)